The SATA group joined the global movement to conserve the lives of sharks by introducing a ban on the transport of fins of these species or other parts of cartilaginous fish on all its flights, it was announced this Friday.
In a statement sent to the newsrooms, the Azores airline explains that the measure applies to all flights operated by SATA Air Açores, responsible for air connections between the nine islands, and by Azores Airlines, with connections outside the archipelago.
The companies “associated themselves, through their adherence to the ‘Fly without fins’ movement, with a group of international organizations for the conservation of marine life and the defense of animal welfare,” says the airline.
The “Fly Without Fins” (“Fly without fins”) is an initiative for the protection of animal life that involves several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) committed to the fight for the conservation of animal life to prevent “the practice of acts cruelty to animals.” and combat the commercialization of shark fins and other parts of cartilaginous fish”, explains SATA.
The initiative includes associations such as Shark Guardian, Sciaena, Sea Shepherd, Sharkproject, MarViva, Gallifrey Foundation, Oceanic Preservation Society, Shark Allies and Sharks Education Institute.
Although “finning” (the name given to cutting the fins of sharks and rays, to later discard the bodies in the oceans) is not an identified practice in the Azores archipelago (the destination most operated by SATA), neither have the two airlines confronted On this issue, to date, the company maintains that the transport ban “can help reinforce the global message in defense of the protection of marine life and contribute to the efforts that have been undertaken on an international level”.
Cited in the statement, the president of the SATA group, Luís Rodrigues, considers that the commitment now assumed represents “one more step in the implementation of a business policy” attentive “to environmental issues and committed to a sustainable future.”
“Although the Azores are an internationally recognized sustainable destination, in which there is responsibility and awareness regarding sustainable fishing and the preservation of the seas, our airlines fly to several destinations and we want to contribute our contribution to the collective effort. [para] dissuade a cruel practice, which is a threat to the species and does not contribute to the balance of the different natural habitats”, reinforces the official.
Alex Hofford, spokesperson for the “Fly without fins” initiative, says, quoted in the note, that he appreciates the SATA group’s entry into this “important movement.”
“The commercialization of shark fins has led to intensive shark fishing and has endangered a third of the species today. If we want to break the trend before it’s too late, we have to act now,” she warned.
Alex Hofford called on airlines to implement measures that prohibit this transport, especially blue shark fins and Atlantic mako sharks, “the most commercialized species.”
Source: Observadora
